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Faithful Citizenship in 2020: Directions and Dangers in a Wounded Church and Hurting Nation

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Faithful Citizenship in 2020: Directions and Dangers in a Wounded Church and Hurting Nation Faithful Citizenship in 2020: Directions and Dangers in a Wounded Church and Hurting Nation Association of US Catholic Priests June 23, 2020 John Carr Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life Georgetown University 60 Years Ago n 8 months from now… Five years ago Three weeks ago Two weeks ago Trump tweets archbishop’s letter blaming coronavirus and Black Lives Matter protests on ‘deep state’ & ‘Masonic’ forces AUSCP Outline I. Mission II. Context III. Assets IV. Faithful Citizenship V. Directions/Dangers Mission in Public Life n What brings Catholics together n Not politics, ideology n Not “Democratic party at prayer” or “ the religious caucus of the Republican party n part of a community of faith, not a PAC n Advocates of life, dignity, justice, not interest group n Priests, not political leaders, proclaim the gospel, celebrate the sacraments, build up body of Christ n Mission? AUSCP Mission To be an association of U.S. Catholic priests offering mutual support and a collegial voice through dialogue, contemplation and prophetic action on issues affecting Church and society. Mission n Jesus' Mission The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. The Lord has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind , to set the downtrodden free.(Luke 4) I have come to bring life and bring it to the full… John 10:10 Faithful Citizenship n The most counter cultural idea … politics is a good thing, participation is a moral obligation n Use the resources of our faith and the opportunities of our democracy to n defend the life, dignity of all God’s children, n protect and care for “ the least of these”, n work for peace and solidarity, n care for God’s creation and n contribute to the common good. Faithful Citizenship What it is Not: • Religious Practices of Politicians • Political Clout of Religious Groups • Pastors Telling Us How to Vote Benedict: Church and Politics “It is not the church’s responsibility to make this teaching prevail in political life. Rather, the church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest.” Benedict XVI …God is Love…Deus Caritas Est Faithful Citizenship Let us not forget that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” FCFC None of us can say, ‘I have nothing to do with [public life]’ No, I am responsible... I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. Pope Francis September 16 Religion and Politics n This kind of talk… n Danger to faith and politics… n Believers have same rights: no more, no less… n Neither favoritism, nor discrimination… n When people bring their deepest convictions, enrich not diminish… n Otherwise, about power, money, ego… Context n A Global Pandemic n A Nation in Crisis n A Divided Economy n A Dangerous World n A Culture of Violence n A Demoralized Politics n A Wounded Church A Wounded Church n Passing on the Faith n Challenges of Diversity, Inclusion, Openness n Polarization and Anger Twin Crises: n Clergy sexual abuse n Leadership failures n Human, Moral, Spiritual Costs n Institutional, Financial, Credibility Costs A Wounded Church n Lessons from 50 Years: n Personal, n Professional, n Institutional https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/09/25/ei ght-lessons-help-us-move-forward-sex-abuse-crisis Survivor, Isolation, lack of accountability, weaponization, abuse of power , Silence. Credibility … Catholic Assets n Not the Gospel , Sacraments, n Not the Constitution, Democracy n Moral Principles: CST n Presence and Institutions n Everyday Experience n Leaders… Pope Francis n People… Voters Moral Framework/Principles n CST n Principles for reflection, n criteria for judgment, n guidelines for action. n Without a vision……” n Different way to look at world n More Complicated than WWJD n Politically Incorrect: Does not fit partisan/ideological framework n Harvard and Georgetown/ search for a moral vocabulary Catholic Social Teaching n Rerum Novarum, n Laborem EXercens, 1981 1891 n Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, n Quadragesimo Anno, 1988 1931 n Centesimus Annus, 1991 n Mater et Magistra, n Evangelium Vitae, 1995 1961 n Deus Caritas Est, 2005 n Pacem in Terris, 1963 n Caritas in Veritate, 2009 n Gaudium et Spes, n Evangelii Gaudium, 2013 1966 n Laudato Si, 2015 n Populorum Progressio, 1967 n Gaudete et EXsultate, 2018 n Octogesima Adveniens, 1971 Catholic “AND” n Human Life and Dignity… n Rights and Responsibilities… n Family and Community n Priority for Poor and Vulnerable n Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers n Solidarity and Subsidiarity…. n Care for the Planet and People n Common Good (all about and) Online Dialogue on COVID-19 What does Catholicism/CST bring to us? It is the primary moral and intellectual system to oppose autonomy. It’s basically all we got. It is the ethos of community in this country and the dominant and most developed intellectual tradition of community.” David Brooks Catholic ASSETS n Everyday Experience n Presence, Institutions n Leaders: n Pastors gathered on-line n Sr Carol Zinn, Sr Carol Keehan, Archbishop Wester n Pope Francis Pope Francis: What’s in a Name? “During the election. when things were looking dangerous, he said: “Don't forget the poor!” That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. For me, he is the • man of poverty, • the man of peace, • the man who loves and protects creation…” (Pope Francis, First Press Conference) Pope Francis Complicated???? n Bottom>Up, n Joy of the Gospel n Outside>In n Love in the Family n Encounter, n Justice in the Engagement Economy n Protection of Life n Welcome for …throwaway culture Immigrants n Religious Freedom n Peace in the World for All n Mercy in the Church n Priority for the n Care for Creation Poor The most powerful statement… Catholic ASSETS n People: Community/Constituency n “Without a people…” n Catholics Voters n “There is no Catholic Vote. n It’s really important.” Catholics and Politics n Catholics are Crucial n A lot of Catholics, quarter of electorate n 11/12 n Catholics are Divided n Not Monolithic, n but important 40-40-20 CATHOLICS 4 TRUMP AUSCP Outline I. Mission II. Context III. Assets IV. Faithful Citizenship V. Directions/Dangers Political Responsibility n 1976 was first Political Responsibility statement n Political Responsibility> n Faithful Citizenship> n Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship n February, 1976 3118 words n November, 2019 17,200 words Benedict: Church and Politics “It is not the church’s responsibility to make this teaching prevail in political life. Rather, the church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest.” Benedict XVI …God is Love…Deus Caritas Est Faithful Citizenship q Two Foundations: q Conscience q Prudence q Two Temptations: q No Distinctions… q Nothing Else Matters… Faithful Citizenship n As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. n A candidate's position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter's support. n Yet if a candidate's position on a single issue promotes an intrinsically evil act, such as legal abortion, redefining marriage in a way that denies its essential meaning, or racist behavior, a voter may legitimately disqualify a candidate from receiving support Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship There may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate’s unacceptable position even on policies promoting an intrinsically evil act may reasonably decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons…. not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore a fundamental moral evil. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship When all candidates hold a position that promotes an intrinsically evil act, the conscientious voter faces a dilemma. n The voter may decide to take the extraordinary step of not voting for any candidate or, n after careful deliberation, may decide to vote for the candidate deemed less likely to advance such a morally flawed position and more likely to pursue other authentic human goods. n Third party ? Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship n These decisions should take into account a candidate’s n commitments, n character, n integrity, n and ability to influence a given issue. n In the end, this is a decision to be made by each Catholic guided by a conscience formed by Catholic moral teaching. No. 37 Key Question Does your faith shape your politics? or Do your politics shape your faith ? Directions/ Dangers Faithful Citizenship n “Political, Not Partisan” n “Principled, Not Ideological” n “Civil, Not Soft” n “Engaged, Not Used” Directions and Dangers 1. Integrate, Don’t 6. Credibility/Practice Isolate What we 2. Anchor in Prayer, Preach/Diversity is Express in Worship Obligation/not Option 3. Preaching: Share the “Secret” of 7. We’re in this CST/It’s Good News together 4. Leadership Preaching 1. Affirm our participation and challenge our assumptions, remind us of moral principles and warn us of our prejudices 2. Restraint: tell us what you are doing and not doing; sharing the gospel, not telling you how to vote 3. Remind us of opportunity and obligation, Call to participation , not partisanship 4.
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